Seattle maker serves a growing market for the Scottish skirt for men

Updated 10:00 pm, Wednesday, September 26, 2001

Utilikilts owner Steven Villegas shows off one of his company's products, which he says is "the most macho of all garments for a man." In 16 months, he has sold 2,500 kilts. With him is Megan Haas.

Utilikilts owner Steven Villegas shows off one of his company's products, which he says is "the most macho of all garments for a man." In 16 months, he has sold 2,500 kilts. With him is Megan Haas.

Photo: PHIL H. WEBBER/P-I

Image 2 of 2

Emily Montgomery cuts material for a kilt at Utilikilts' production facility on 15th Avenue West in Seattle, where a retail shop is scheduled to open Oct. 10.

Emily Montgomery cuts material for a kilt at Utilikilts' production facility on 15th Avenue West in Seattle, where a retail shop is scheduled to open Oct. 10.

Photo: PHIL H. WEBBER/P-I

Kilts on the cutting edge of the latest fashion

1 / 2

Back to Gallery

Perhaps the idea of donning a skirt isn't for most guys -- but who is to say for sure until he tries?

Steven Villegas, the owner and creator of Utilikilts, is betting that once a man tries on one of his kilts, and experiences freedom from constricting slacks and shorts, he will be forever converted.

Villegas has recently moved his kilt manufacturing plant and offices from a garage-size space on 16th Avenue West to a spacious 3,300-square-foot warehouse at 1819 15th Ave. W.

A sign as wide as the building itself announces the arrival of Utilikilts. Kilt making is done on the top floor of the building, and a retail shop will open Oct. 10 on the street level.

In business for 16 months, Villegas and his crew have already stitched and sold 2,500 kilts to everyone from businessmen to former rodeo cowboys.

Five guys in Milwaukee bought kilts for their golf outings.

The company isn't making a profit yet, but when it does, Villegas plans to funnel the money toward his real dream: converting a double-decker bus into a theater for a traveling troubadour type of show.

But for now, he is focusing on kilts, pouring his income back into building the business.

The kilts are made from a variety of fabrics, including cotton twill, blue denim and polyester blends. Some are tie-dyed; others have tropical prints. Styles for construction workers include loops to hold a hammer.

They range in price from $87 to $150. Special kilts, such as a custom-made tuxedo kilt, can cost several hundred dollars.

"The kilt is the most macho of all garments for a man. It is like a warrior's garment," said Villegas, who hit on the idea of a kilt years ago after overheating while working in a hot garage.

He figured something with a little more air circulation would help him keep his cool. He hasn't looked back at slacks since.

"I think it is the most comfortable thing a man can wear," said Villegas, adding that what a man decides to wear under his kilt -- if anything -- "is a completely personal decision."

Utilikilts' nine employees come to work in their kilts -- even the company's accountant, Bill Guerts, who looks as staid and proper as any accountant in a blue button down shirt, crisp navy blue kilt, dark socks and perfectly shined shoes.

Guerts, originally from Portland, said he had been wearing kilts for years, and when he found out about Utilikilts, he couldn't wait to work for the company.

Kilt wearing is gaining some fans among men in the United States. Besides Utilikilts, a few American kilt makers, such as Sport Kilts, based in Seal Beach, Calif., have opened for business.

Villegas isn't worried about competition.

"No one can do this; we have a patent on our kilt design," he said.

The patent includes the flat, symmetrical pleating, which allows the kilt to swing, but never fly up -- Marylyn Monroe-style -- in a strong wind.

The kilt's heavy-duty pockets, which lie flat on the front, always hang right side up, even when the wearer bends or stoops.

The Seattle kilt maker does little advertising, relying on word of mouth, a stack of business cards included in the pockets of each kilt, and a vast Web site that includes pictures and testimonial of devoted kilt wearers (www.utilikilts.com).

Villegas said the company's most successful market so far has been Texas.

But one of the company's biggest fans lives in Nebraska. Hugh Hunt is the owner of Huntel Co., an Internet-service provider with 750 employees.

He had never worn a kilt until he saw a news feature on Utilikilts. He couldn't wait to order one, and now has four. He wears a kilt a couple of days each week.

Recently, he persuaded a dozen male company presidents to don black kilts and pose for a photo now featured on the Utilikilts Web site.

"I am a very practical guy," Hunt said in a phone interview yesterday. "These are very practical things. They should replace jeans. They are very comfortable, and they look good.

"We have golfed in them, and worn them to parties. They're good for morale."